Mayor Strelow defends councils charges after controversy

AS developers line up to complain about infrastructure rates in the Rockhampton area, Mayor Margaret Strelow has defended the council charges.

She said council is bound by state government legislation, but has been workshopping with councillors who will soon be deciding whether to defer infrastructure charges for a few years to give developers the opportunity to build.

She said she has spoken to Local Government Minister David Crisafulli about the proposal and thinks it is likely it will be passed in the last meeting before council.

Since the state government's 40% subsidy was axed in 2008 Cr Strelow said costs for developers had to increase to avoid increasing rates, and council is out of pocket since the government introduced maximum infrastructure charges.